piwo
01-06-2008, 07:00 PM
“Mavens day at the range” thread began discussing wooden dowels for loading sticks and I thought I’d share my “multi-purpose” sticks. I shared a picture previously of my “range rod”, but his is what I carry into the field hunting.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jsquaredjcubed/Shooting%20Pics/IMG_1686.jpg
For years I simply had the leather strap holding two lose sticks. When hunting, I’d merely grab them in one hand, lay the rifle in the intersection, then shoot. Since the sticks are what I used to reload, I believed they needed to be lose. These one half inch wooden dowels, sanded, stained and oiled make for a perfect rod in the field for my .54 flinter. Lands to lands are .541, so not much room for flexing. These stout sticks are perfect for my purposes.
Then I took my 12 year old cousin hunting and he couldn’t handle my sticks, and he also could not shoot sufficiently steady free hand. What to do?? I went to the local hardware store and bought me these threaded post and screw combination for about a buck, crudely filed and drilled the night before the hunt, then joined them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jsquaredjcubed/Shooting%20Pics/IMG_1684.jpg
Here’s what they look like opened.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jsquaredjcubed/Shooting%20Pics/IMG_1688.jpg
The threaded screw comes off with a few quick twists and I then have a loading rod almost to bore diameter. Works well.
An additional feature I built in was drilling holes in the bottom, and gluing in threaded archery tip inserts. When getting to one's stand, simply thread in some "target tips", and you now have sticks that will "bite the ground" and not slip! Worked real well, but the glue didn't adhere well enough and the inserts came out after constant use. I'll fix that.:wink: I think I will also thread the top of one so I can just use the darn jag.. And no, when reloading in the field, I didn't forget to remove the target tip from the bottom! :-D
Anyway, that's my field system, and it works for me! I can honestly say the "piwo peep site" and these sticks when combined added to my enjoyment hunting this past season. :drinks:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jsquaredjcubed/Shooting%20Pics/IMG_1686.jpg
For years I simply had the leather strap holding two lose sticks. When hunting, I’d merely grab them in one hand, lay the rifle in the intersection, then shoot. Since the sticks are what I used to reload, I believed they needed to be lose. These one half inch wooden dowels, sanded, stained and oiled make for a perfect rod in the field for my .54 flinter. Lands to lands are .541, so not much room for flexing. These stout sticks are perfect for my purposes.
Then I took my 12 year old cousin hunting and he couldn’t handle my sticks, and he also could not shoot sufficiently steady free hand. What to do?? I went to the local hardware store and bought me these threaded post and screw combination for about a buck, crudely filed and drilled the night before the hunt, then joined them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jsquaredjcubed/Shooting%20Pics/IMG_1684.jpg
Here’s what they look like opened.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jsquaredjcubed/Shooting%20Pics/IMG_1688.jpg
The threaded screw comes off with a few quick twists and I then have a loading rod almost to bore diameter. Works well.
An additional feature I built in was drilling holes in the bottom, and gluing in threaded archery tip inserts. When getting to one's stand, simply thread in some "target tips", and you now have sticks that will "bite the ground" and not slip! Worked real well, but the glue didn't adhere well enough and the inserts came out after constant use. I'll fix that.:wink: I think I will also thread the top of one so I can just use the darn jag.. And no, when reloading in the field, I didn't forget to remove the target tip from the bottom! :-D
Anyway, that's my field system, and it works for me! I can honestly say the "piwo peep site" and these sticks when combined added to my enjoyment hunting this past season. :drinks: